Ladder



A. SKEENES Aug. 7, 1934.

LADDER Filed Oct. 31. 1933 Patented Aug. 7, 1934 ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LADDER Allen skeenes, Turtle creek, w. va.

Application October 31,

7 Claims.

to the vertical wall of an edifice and the platform is carried by the ladder for the convenience of the user of the same, the ladder being extensible and the platform adjustable.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a ladder of this character wherein the carriage is movablein a trackV and the ladder is susceptible of angular adjustment to accommodate itself to the characteristic of foundation upon which the ladder is arranged, there being a prop to prevent the toppling over of the ladder and the platform carried is susceptible of elevation and is latched in its adjusted position.

A still further object 'of the invention is the provision of a ladder of this character which is comparatively7 simplein construction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in' its purposes, strong,

,.dui'able, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully describedA in detail, illus- Vtrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended. Y

In the accompanying drawing: Y Figure 1 is an elevation of a ladder constructed in accordance with the invention, showing by full lines one position of the carriage and by dotted lines another position thereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevation. Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-'-3 of Figure 1 looking Vin the direction of the arrows. `Figure 4-is a sectional view on the "line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of 'the arrows.

Figure '5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional pview showing in detail one of the duplex pulleys.

Figure 6 isan exploded perspective view showing the intertting connection of the side rails of the ladder proper. s Y

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line' 7-'7 of Figure .3- l i Figure 8 is Aa horizontal sectional view of Figure7.`

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view showing in detailY a rope clamp. Y

Figure 10 is a fragmentary bottomplan'view 1933, serial No. A696,081;

(Cl. S04- 31)l of the track showing in detail the coupling latch for the sections thereof. .Y Figure 11 is a fragmentary'vertical longitudinal sectional view through the trackat the latch for. Y

` Y con' the sections of the same.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary exploded perspective View of the track sections, showing the interfitting relation at their meeting ends.

Similar reference characters .indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the ladderV comprises spaced parallel side rails10 and intermediate spaced transverse rungs 11, these being joined to the side rails in any suitable or desirable manner and such side rails are preferably sectional so that the ladder is susceptiblev for extension. The sections of each side rail 10telescope at their meeting ends into a coupling sleeve 12 and each end is detachably secured by a removable fastener 13, the coupling sleeve 12 being countersunk so that its outer faces will be flush with the outer faces of the sections of the side'rails 10, as should be apparentin Figure 6 I of the drawing.

The side rails 10 have fitted therewithnear their lower ends curved racks 14, these being pivotedl at 15 to a carriage 16,' its traction wheels 17 being journaled at opposite ends of the same and adapted to travel in a channeled track including the separable sections 18, each having lateral spread tread pieces 19 which constitute cleats for gripping engagement with a foundation or y ground. The sections 18 are detachably joined with each other by means of a latch 20 releasably held by a hand actuated keeper camA 21; The racks 14 are provided with the rack teeth 22 meshing with rack-gears 23 journaled in mountings 24 upon the side railsv 10.` Therack gears 23 are locked by releasable keeper pawls- 25 upon the mountings 24. Thus itwill be seen that by adjustment of the racks 14 the kcarriage 15 can be shifted from horizontal to'an angular position so that the ladder may be sustained perpendicular when upon a grade. Y

The Ycarriage V16 intermediate thereof is fitted with a stud shaft 26 which is suitably journaled in the carriage. 'I'he shaft 26 carries a sprocket gear 28 over-which is trained an endless sprocket Slidably arranged on the side rails is a platform 31 having the lower yokes 32 which loosely embrace the side rails 10 and the upper yokes 33 likewise loosely embracing the side rails 10 and 5 a part of braces 34 for said platform 31. These yokes 32 and 33 are fitted with anti-friction rollers 35 which contact with the side rails 10 to assure easy shifting of the platform in the adjustmentthereoff. 1

Upon 'an intermediate rung 11 centrally thereof is supported a hanger 27 in which is journaled a double pulley 36 about which is trained an actuator cable 37, the same beingalso'trainediff about a pulley 38 fixed to the stud shaft 26 and l5 29 for transmitting rotation to the traction wheels 17 of the carriage 16 'forits'itravel 1uponw the track, as should be apparent, andrin this mined'. placement: relative `toza vvertical wall of anV edifice. Y

Mountednpon-:a ,selected rungv 11 above `the on actuation of either stretches of the cable 3'?-= motion will be imparted to the sprocket.chain.. vr

or window frame space to permit of the convenient shifting of the ladder crosswise thereof under the travel of the carriage 16 in the track vsections 18. It should be apparent that the rail 53 is susceptible of movement relative to the platform 31 for the iixing of the position of this rail in the handling of the ladder.

Connected with a rung 11 at the lower end of theladder is a propf55, it being preferablyV swingingly-connected centrallywiththe rungand provided with an extensible section 56 having a foot 57 for contact with a foundation or ground, the prop 55 being susceptible of latching in angular adjusted position by a keeper 58 suitably carriedfat the lower end of the ladder and such prop. .will. sustain.- the ladder in upright yor perpendicular position to avoid any liability of the sainetoppling Lover, was fwell as maintaining prop- .j .er working position of said ladder and its platfashion the ladder can be arranged for deter-r kform 31to' the work.

Itishould: be iobvious that the laddery inA its con'- struction and arrangement is .handyforregul hangec3'l lis ;another:hanger 39 carrying' a single Y l 25. pulley 40, the same havingptrained'thereover thel actuatorlca'ble i .411 .which .is also trained lover` the doublepulley36gso `thatwauser of the ladder,` at a high pointlupon vtheasarne, can readilyv and conveniently; 'actuatei the ,==.spro,cket chain 29 for The arrangement of the pulleys 36 and l0-upon the, ladderperrnits thegseparationof the upperimparting .rotationrv-fto1the traction Wheels "17...

mostsectiongof ;the same without disturbing the l,

cablef37 iniitsarrangement for thedriving of (the carriage;.=16.1-A

The platform has swingingly' connected theretorfretaining.; hooks 42; these being engageablewitlr selected rungs-vll. and controlled by` cranks 431.of=:areleasingggpedal 44 swingingly supported Viofiruopn;thef1: latformi31,'itibeing seen that byvdepressing; the1pedal44the cranks 43 will'move the.

lhooksjffiZ out -ofgengagementewith'a rung 11 when hookedfthereon'.: .Thehooks-42iare so formed asvr to'ridegover: the -rungsll of theladder on Ythe up'- 1ward pressure of the platform v3l--upon the laddency j v Bridging the .braces 34- isV an- :upwardly arched bail iffcarryngla pulley-46,Whi1e upon'arung 11':

isl arcompanion pulley 47, these pulleys Abeing oirttedgnwth a hoisting cable; 48 manuallycone VYshould bel obvious from- Figure'l of `the drawing :r

31thestretches of the cable 37 and such ways. openthese clamps are inserted inthe Ways 49 they will f gripandf-,wedge thestretches -of the cable 3'7to,` holdrfastxsuch-cable on adjustment of' the saine for` the placement of the ladderfrelative tot. the workf and; thus avoiding any accidental; shifting Iof the samezefromffs itsggplacement. 1 Each-5 -clamp 50,

Ate.theiledgelv ofetheplatform 31:,fznext .ton-thef work, :there is 'providedI rollers52; `these received .y

insa channeledlrestrail 53;.carryingrollers 54:.' forxengagementiwim the workr and; such rail 53;' itunctionsitorr span; a gapi orda doerg' frame.; space :f

l trol` ofr the vuser of the ladder.

tion toa-,piece `of'work and Lis'susceptibleof convenientV andf-easyfadjustment :for -.the proper@ placement offgthe same with relation .tofthe' work, 110D the` platformnbeing readily and: conveniently raised or lowered with safetyand under the corv-` y -In Figure, :12 of'. the.-'drawing it will Ybe seen thatthe meeting ends ofthe sections 18.- of :ther 10m track one-half of each isformedwith 'a'beveledw protuberance or projection59,-.while the-side-of each section to that ofrthe-Iprotuberance or pro-a l jeetion side yis provided witha depression 60's@V that the. protuberance or projection wills tfinto g iton themeetingofthesections and this over-l lapped vinteriitting relation vprevents either: end s of. said sectionfromrisingtoA obstruct the, wheels,`

. 17 whilelbeingoperated on uneven grounds'.

Whatgisclaimed is: 1155;

1." JA ladder; ofv 2 the character described ,comprising? .aa :plurality of 'rung' sections detachably coupled with eachxothery a carriage for thefladder,v .means for. 1 angularly adjusting` the; carriage` with relation tot the ladder,l traction vrwheels onV 12m the carriage; a track for 1thewheels, means carried-'bytheladder for operating the-tractionf wheels .to impart itravelxto the carriage when `supporting theI ladder, andan adjustable Vplatf formzsupportedby the ladder.`4 trollcdfbyvanoperator when lupon the platform for the raisingand loweringaof--sucn platform, asv- 2. A aladder. iof' the character described rcom- 125' prising ;a plurality of rung sections. detachably coupled with each other, a carriage for the lad- I der, means for angularly-adjusting -the carriage withjrelationito the: -ladder, Vtraction -wheels-on gh thegcarriagej-,a tracklfory the Wheelsfmeanscar ried-by theiladder -for operatings-.thertraction wheels to impart travelfto -the carriage when supporting the ladder/,1 an adjustable platfonn supportedby the ladder,` anda rest railmovable 135. relative V`to theyplatform and'having'rollers.-y

3. `Arladderfof the character described-comprising a plurality'of rung'sections detaehably coupled with eachother, a carriage for the ladder, means .forangu1arly adjustingthe carriage 140:. withY Yrelationl to :the ladder,-V traction. wheels` on the carriage, a .track-for the wheelsgmeans car-Y ried by the ladder for 'operating .the ytraction wheels to Yimpart-y travel to i the: carriage when supporting .the ladder, an adjustable platform supported bypftheladder,v a restraily movable relative to `the platform and having rollers, hooks: on the platform -f or engagement with selective rungs, and means-manuallyoperated,for the reeleasegofisaid hooks.; 15O' 4. A ladder of the character described comprising a plurality of rung sections detachably coupled with each other, a carriage for the ladder, means for angularly adjusting the carriage With relation to the ladder, traction wheels on the carriage, a track for the Wheels, means carried by the ladder for operating the traction Wheels to impart travel to the carriage when supporting the ladder, an adjustable platform supported by the ladder, a rest rail movable re1- ative to the platform and having rollers, hooks on the platform for engagement with selective rungs, means manually operated for the release of said hooks, and means for locking the secondnamed'means and removably tted in the platform.

5. A ladder of the character described comprising a plurality of rung sections detachably coupled with each other, a carriage for the ladder, means for angularly adjusting the carriage with relation to the ladder, traction Wheels on the carriage, a track for the wheels, means carried by the ladder for operating the traction wheels to impart travel to the carriage when supporting the ladder, an adjustable platform supported by the ladder, a rest rail movable rel- :ative to the platform and having rollers, hooks @n the platform for engagement with selective rungs, means manually operated for the release of said hooks, means for locking the secondnamed means and removably tted in the platform, and a prop for the ladder and. angularly adjustable.

6. A ladder of the character described comprsng a plurality of rung sections detachably coupled with each other, a carriage for the ladder, means for angularly adjusting the carriage with relation to the ladder, traction wheels on the carriage, a track for the wheels, means carried by the ladder for operating the traction wheels to impart travel to the carriage when supporting the ladder, an adjustable platform supported by the ladder, a rest rail movable relative to the platform and having rollers, hooks Aon the platform for engagement with selective rungs, means manually operated for the release of said hooks, means for locking the second-named means and removably fitted in the platform, a prop for the ladder and angularly adjustable, and lateral spreads on said track and forming ground cleats.

7. A ladder of the character described comprising a plurality of rung sections detachably coupled with each other, a carriage for the ladder, means for angularly adjusting the carriage with relation to the ladder, traction wheels on the carriage, a track for the Wheels, means carried by the ladder for operating the traction Wheels to impart travel to the carriage when supporting the ladder, an adjustable platform supported by the ladder, a rest rail movable relative to the platform and having rollers, hooks on the platform for engagement with selective rungs, means manually operated for the release of said hooks, means for locking the second-named means and removably fitted in the platform, a prop for the ladder and angularly adjustable, lateral spreads on said track and forming ground cleats, and means slidably connecting the platform with the rung sections. ALLEN SKEENES. 

